Biographical Data :

With the Burj Dubai – the 160-plus-story spire of offices and luxury apartments – the latest jewel in the impressive crown, Sheikh al-Maktoum aspires to take the Arab minds to reach for skies.

Working first a deputy to his father and since 2006 ruling the country on his own, Sheikh Mo – as he is fondly called – further advanced Dubai into a major global hub for business, finance, trade and tourism. Dubai is now an internationally recognised synonym for success in the Middle East.

Sheikh Mo is the driving force behind the construction of Dubailand, tourism and entertainment complex divided into seven theme worlds that are Dubai’s answer to Disneyland. By 2015 Dubailand is aiming to attract 15m tourists, roughly 40,000 visitors daily.

The airport at Jebel Ali, a port town 20 miles away, is due to come into full operation in 2017. Designed to handle 120m passengers a year, it is expected to be the world’s busiest airport.

In 2007, Sheikh al-Maktoum set up Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum Foundation with a $10 billion endowment – it aims to inspire knowledge, ideas and innovation among the builders of tomorrow’s Arab world.

Sheikh al-Maktoum wants young and educated Arab boys and girls to reach for the skies.